Archive for
July 17th, 2012

The Denver Nuggets have waived F/C Chris Andersen under the amnesty provision outlined in the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today.

Andersen, 6-10, 228, averaged 5.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.44 blocked shots in 32 games with the Nuggets last season.

Andersen, 34, began his career with the Nuggets as an undrafted free agent in 2001-02 and played three seasons in Denver before leaving as a free agent in 2004. He returned in 2008 and played a key role in the team’s run to the 2009 Western Conference finals.

Andersen finished second in the NBA in blocks per game (2.46) in 2008-09, and he ranks fifth on Denver’s franchise list with 624 career blocks in a Nuggets uniform.

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed guard Jeremy Lin after the New York Knicks chose not to match Houston’s offer sheet for the restricted free agent. Under the terms of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Knicks had three days to match the offer from the Rockets.

“We are thrilled to have Jeremy back as part of the Rockets family,” said Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander. “In his limited opportunity last season, Jeremy showed that he has all the skills to be a great player in this league for many years to come. In addition to being a great passer, he is also exceptional at driving to the rim and finishing plays. He also showed a poise well beyond his years by making winning plays at the end of numerous games last season. Jeremy is a winner on and off the court and we view him as an important part of our plan to build a championship contender.”

Lin (6-3, 200, Harvard) has averaged 9.2 points, 4.0 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.38 steals in 64 games (25 starts) with Golden State and New York. After being claimed by the Knicks off waivers on Dec. 27, 2011, Lin exploded onto the NBA landscape by averaging 18.2 points, 7.6 assists and 2.00 steals with seven double-doubles in 25 starts with New York. Lin actually became the first NBA player to record at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first five NBA starts since Elias Sports Bureau began charting stats in 1970. Lin was also the first Knicks player since Michael Ray Richardson in 1980-1981 to record at least 20 points and seven assists in six straight games. Lin was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Feb. 6-12, leading New York to a 4-0 record with averages of 27.3 points, 8.3 assists and 2.00 steals.

Lin, who was waived by Golden State on Dec. 9, 2011, was actually claimed off waivers by Houston on Dec. 12. He appeared in two preseason outings with the Rockets before being waived on Dec. 24, 2011. Lin had appeared in 29 games with the Warriors in 2010-11, averaging 2.6 points, 1.4 assists, 1.2 rebounds and 1.14 steals in 9.8 minutes per contest as a rookie. He also played in 20 games for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League in 2010-11, averaging 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists. The 6-3 guard was originally signed by Golden State as a free agent on July 21, 2010, after going undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Harvard.

The New Orleans Hornets have expressed interest in unrestricted free agent center Ryan Hollins, a 7-footer who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics last season, sources confirmed Tuesday.

The Hornets do not have a true center on their roster although they acquired 14-year veteran Brad Miller in a trade last week from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Miller is not expected to be on Hornets’ active roster this upcoming season because he plans to retire.

Denver Nuggets: Hamilton has put up big scoring numbers in all three of Denver’s games so far (the Nuggets play Thursday and Friday, as well). He scored 18 points in the two previous games, though wasn’t as efficient as Tuesday, still shooting 6-for-15 against Dallas and 7-for-15 against Golden State.

Hamilton said he has lost 19 pounds this summer, bringing the 6-7 wing to 220 pounds.

“I just want to get faster and quicker – I feel more explosive when I’m lighter,” he said. “So it’ll help me get up and down the court.”

Mike Miller believes his balky back can improve without surgery, and he’s planning to help the NBA champion Miami Heat defend their crown next season.

Miller limped through much of this past season, his back pain so severe at times that he couldn’t even sit on the Heat bench during games. He has been consulting with Miami neurosurgeon Dr. Barth Green throughout this offseason, and the expectation now is that a combination of rest and rehabilitation should be enough to get him ready to play again.

“No retirement,” Miller said Tuesday.

Miller made an appearance for about 600 children at a basketball camp he sponsored, walking in to roars from the kids and chants of his last name. And when told that Hialeah, a city just north of Miami, believes it was the epicenter of the biggest party to celebrate the Heat championship, Miller tipped his hand as to his future plans.

While the Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as the front-runner for Greg Stiemsma, his agent tells CSNNE.com that the restricted free agent has yet to receive an offer sheet.

The Timberwolves are focused on acquiring Portland’s Nicolas Batum who signed a $46 million offer sheet with Minnesota.

“Until that’s worked out, a lot of players like Greg will just have to wait which is fine,” his agent Mike Naiditch, told CSNNE.com on Tuesday. “We understand that this is a process and will take time. We’re not in any kind of rush.”

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived forward Andray Blatche and has designated him as the team’s amnesty player. Under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the amnesty provision allows the Wizards to remove the remainder of Blatche’s contract from the team’s salary cap.

“Andray did not figure into our future plans, and using the amnesty provision is a mutually beneficial opportunity for us to part ways,” said Grunfeld. “We will be able to continue to develop our core group of young players, blend in the solid veterans we have acquired and maintain financial flexibility while Andray will be able to get a fresh start with another team. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Blatche averaged 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in 409 career games with the Wizards. He was originally acquired as second round selection (49 th overall) in the 2005 NBA Draft.

The Clippers continue to add veteran talent to their roster, as Grant Hill has reportedly agreed to sign with the Clippers. The means of the signing, whether it be the veteran’s minimum, the bi-annual exception or a sign-and-trade have not been finalized.

Hill, who will turn 40 in October, was said to be considering signing with the Lakers or the Knicks before the Clippers emerged as a player over the weekend.

After three healthy seasons in Phoenix, Hill played in 49 games last season for the Suns, averaging 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds a game.

Guard Royal Ivey has returned to the Sixers, coach Doug Collins told reporters today.

The 6-4 Ivey played in 71 games with the Sixers in 2008-09, averaging 3 points per game in 12.1 minutes as a reserve. Ivey appeared in 26 games the following season before he was traded to Milwaukee in the deal that brought Jodie Meeks.

He spent the last two seasons with Oklahoma City, playing in 25 games two years ago and 34 games last season. He also appeared in five playoff games as the Thunder reached the NBA Finals this past season.

If Fran Vázquez ever plays for the Orlando Magic, it won’t be before the 2014-15 season.

The Magic’s former first-round draft pick has decided to keep playing in Europe. Again.

In an interview Tuesday, Vázquez’s agent, José Cobelo, confirmed that Vázquez has agreed in principle to a new contract with Unicaja Málaga, a team in Spain’s top league.

Cobelo said the new deal is guaranteed for two seasons and does not include an out clause that would enable the 6-foot-10 big man to leave Spain for the NBA. The contract includes an option to extend the deal for a third year, the 2014-15 season.

“We haven’t had much communication with Orlando,” Cobelo said. “They didn’t have much interest, so they didn’t affect our situation.”

The Brooklyn Nets have made an agreement in principle on a contract with forward Kris Humphries, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. According to multiple reports, it is a two-year deal worth $24 million.

“Kris has been a very consistent player for us over the past two years,” said King. “He has developed into one of the top rebounding forwards in the league, and we are very pleased to welcome him back.”

According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, “His pending signature gives the Nets a starting 5 certainly worthy of a playoff spot - PG Deron Williams, SG Joe Johnson, SF Gerald Wallace, PF Humphries and C Lopez - although the team’s total payroll is set to exceed $80 million, or about $10 million above the luxury tax threshold. “Kris is really excited to be playing for the new, cool team - the Brooklyn Nets,” Humphries’ agent, Dan Fegan, said. Humphries had been eager for a lucrative deal after consecutive years averaging a double-double, and he targeted Brooklyn — a team yearning for a rebounding power forward and capable of paying him more than any other team because they hold his Bird Rights.”

Humphries rejoins the Nets after a career-year in 2011-12 that saw the 6-9 forward average personal bests of 13.8 points and 11.0 rebounds, while shooting .481 (323-671) from the field in 62 games. He has now averaged a double-double in consecutive seasons, 2010-11 and 2011-12. The eight-year veteran out of Minnesota ranked 4th in the NBA in rebounds per game last season, tallied 29 double-doubles (10th in NBA) and scored 20+ points 12 times. He recorded a career-high 31 points vs. Milwaukee on March 12 and tallied a season-high 21 rebounds vs. Toronto on March 14.

Humphries originally came to the Nets as part of a mid-season trade in 2009-10. Selected 14th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by Utah, he went on to play for Toronto and Dallas before joining the Nets. In 493 career NBA games, Humphries holds averages of 6.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Free-agent point guard Jonny Flynn worked out with for the Cavaliers on Monday, and there remains strong interest on both sides. Flynn has battled hip injuries in the past, but is healthy now and making a tour of NBA camps.

He has already worked out for the Cavs, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks and has more teams on the schedule. He isn’t close to making a decision, according to a source close to Flynn.

The Cavs have held internal debates about whether or not it’s necessary to sign another point guard. Kyrie Irving and Donald Sloan are the only pure point guards on the roster, and Sloan is on a non-guaranteed contract.

Dion Waiters can certainly run the offense and Daniel Gibson, when healthy, can handle the point guard role in an emergency. But coach Byron Scott said he’d feel more comfortable with another true point guard, particularly in case Irving gets injured again.